Polarized light analyzer

Abstract

A follicular dissection system comprises a polarized light source for directing polarized light onto a follicular donor section. An analyzer polarizes image light from the follicular donor section. An optical system provides an image of the follicular donor section from polarized image light from the analyzer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]In some hair transplant techniques, including for example micro graft hair transplant techniques, individual follicular units of hair are harvested from a donor region for micro graft transplantation in a recipient region. Follicular unit hair transplantation systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,625 (Rassman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,279 (Rassman) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,851 (Rassman). Follicular units may be harvested by first removing a section or strip of skin from an area where hair grows. This donor section may then be further dissected and / or sliverized into smaller strips or sections and finally into individual follicular units. A follicular unit is a natural grouping of hairs, from 1 hair up to 4 hairs, most commonly 2 or 3 hairs, which grow together as a group, including a common root sac. The size of individual follicular units may depends on factors including the number of hairs in the follicular unit and the thickness o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent text describes a system for harvesting and transplanting follicular units of hair from a donor region to a recipient region. The system includes a microscope or other optical magnifying system, a light source, a source polarizer, an image polarizer or analyzer, and a microscope. The system uses a microscopic viewing system to identify and isolate follicular units of hair for dissection and transplantation. The technical effect of the system is to improve the yield of transplantable follicular units from a donor section by identifying and isolating all follicular units, even if they are difficult to see or overlooked during dissection. This increases the number of hairs or follicular units that can be harvested from a given donor section."

Problems solved by technology

If the follicular units are not visualized during dissection, some of the follicular units could be damaged or missed during dissection, thereby reducing the yield from the donor section in terms of the number of transplantable follicular units available for dissection from a given donor section.

In certain donor sections or strips, for example, it may be difficult to distinguish some hairs.

Lighter colored hairs may be particularly susceptible to being overlooked or not clearly viewed during dissection.

The root sac may also be overlooked or not clearly viewed due to glare or reflected light.

As a result, some of the follicular units and / or root sacs in the donor section may not be sufficiently defined or visible in the magnified image of the donor section and may be overlooked and / or damaged during dissection.

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